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The Incredible Story of the "Miracle On The Hudson"

US Airways Flight 1549 was a plane that took off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City in 2009. It had 155 people on board, including the pilots, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles. However, the flight quickly became dangerous when the plane hit a flock of geese, causing both engines to fail.

The pilots knew they couldn’t make it back to the airport, so Captain Sullenberger made a quick decision to land the plane in the Hudson River. The passengers were scared but followed the crew’s instructions and made it off the plane safely. The event became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson” because everyone survived the crash landing.

The emergency responders and nearby boats helped rescue the passengers and crew from the river. The event was widely reported on the news, and people praised the bravery and expertise of the pilots and flight crew. The pilots later testified before Congress about the event and called for more training for pilots and better safety regulations.

The story of Flight 1549 shows the importance of quick thinking and preparation in emergency situations and highlights the bravery of the pilots and crew who helped save the lives of all on board.

Vocabulary

  • Flock: A group of birds or other animals that stay together and move together.
  • Fail: To stop working properly or to be unsuccessful.
  • Emergency: A serious situation that requires immediate action to deal with.
  • Responders: People who respond quickly to an emergency situation to help others.
  • Praise: To express admiration or approval for someone or something.
  • Expertise: The knowledge and skills of an expert in a particular field or area.
  • Testify: To give evidence or speak in a court of law or in front of a committee.
  • Regulations: Official rules or laws that govern how something should be done.
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About The Story

  1. Where did US Airways Flight 1549 take off from?
  2. How many people were on board the plane, including the pilots?
  3. What caused both engines of the plane to fail?
  4. Why did the pilots decide to land the plane in the Hudson River?
  5. What happened to the passengers and crew after the plane landed in the river?
  6. Why did people call the event the “Miracle on the Hudson”?
  7. What did the pilots call for after the event?
  8. What does the story of Flight 1549 show about emergency situations?

About You

  1. Have you ever been on a plane before? If so, where did you go?
  2. Do you know any emergency procedures for planes?
  3. Have you ever experienced a dangerous situation while traveling?
  4. How do you think the passengers on Flight 1549 felt when they heard the engines stop working?
  5. Do you think you would have been scared if you were on the plane?
  6. What do you think made Captain Sullenberger’s decision to land the plane in the Hudson River so successful?
  7. How do you think the passengers’ lives might have been different if the pilots hadn’t been able to land the plane safely?
  8. Do you think safety regulations for air travel are important? Why or why not?